Stroud Library of Things will make a variety of tools and equipment available at low cost for people to borrow. We want to inspire and support our community to spend less, waste less and share more.
We want everyone to access a range of tools and equipment for DIY projects, home improvement, gardening and for helping with hobbies and interests. Borrowing from the library will save you money on tools you rarely use or are too expensive and save you space! If you no longer use tools, donating to the library will support the sharing economy. We want to build a sense of community around the project and are looking for people to volunteer time, share skills and contribute ideas. The funding will pay for administration and storage, to manage volunteers and to build community awareness. We have already been donated some tools but will also use the money to buy further items on the public wish-list. Borrowers will have to pay a small annual membership and a minimal cost per loan but we aim to keep these as low as possible, and offer concession rates and a pay-it-forward facility, Every donation over £20 will earn a year’s membership and you can rent your first item for free!
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
We will enable people to access tools they need within their budget to fix and repair items, enjoy hobbies and pastimes, and hold family and community events, including specialist tools and expensive equipment. We will liberate many unused tools for community use preventing items ending up wasted or in landfill and storage space for donors. We will reduce the needless individual purchases of items which people rarely use and encourage sharing, saving natural resources, reducing CO2 of manufacture and transport. We will arrange opportunities for community learning of new skills and sharing with others. strengthening relationships and community bonds. We plan to collaborate with local repairers, to fix tools and PAT test electrical items. We will support community organisations to have access to SLoTh and to promote to their users.
Steps to get it done:
We have done research and gathered feedback from individuals and local community groups. We’ve visited and met the two county Libraries, and others outside the county. We have support from our local Town, District and County councils. The county waste team is particularly engaged, working with us in promoting the scheme and helping us collect rentable items from the waste stream, and recycling end of life items in the best manner. Our online survey attracted over 200 responses, with 100% backing - more than half offered items and asked about volunteer opportunities. We have spoken to leaders at the local network of community hubs and other community providers. Some have already pledged funding, and we will be working with them to ensure people can access and be involved with the project, from helping select library items , arranging drop off and collection points, and helping set the membership and rental cost points, which will help fund the continuing viability. .
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Whoop, 60 people have pledged since fundraising began!
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Whoop, 30 people have pledged since fundraising began!
How will the money be spent?Target (inc. fees) £5,902
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Target (inc. fees) £5,902
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VolunteerOffers
At Creative Sustainability we provide residentials, activities, workshops and opportunities for marginalised people and communities across Stroud and beyond. We facilitate safe, supportive environments where people develop confidence and independence, raise self-esteem and expectations, access peer to peer support, develop and maintain friendships and become active citizens. For many these are first steps to improving mental and physical health, living happy and fulfilled lives.
Our work aims to address mental, physical and economic health inequalities for disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable adults and young people. We are highly regarded for our expertise in inclusion and peer to peer support, managing positive and negative risk, creative approaches to engagement of hard-to-reach groups, youth leadership facilitation and co-produced inclusive evaluation.
Access Bike Project is a youth peer mentor support project and community bike workshop. We sell refurbished bikes, run mentor schemes, upcycle parts and provide a young people space to make friends and learn new skills.
The 3rd Space is a youth space with a community kitchen, cooking and music sessions, gardening and art - a vibrant, inclusive, safe, supported space for young people to develop skills, make friends and have fun.
Gloucestershire Youth Climate Group is funded by GCC to engage youth to support action to make a positive impact for a low carbon and resilient county that reduces inequities and centres the needs of people and the environment.
We work with SDC on a district wide Community Hubs Development strategy collaborating with other organisations also supporting marginalised communities to combine services and projects for a wider reach.
Our Digital inclusion Project works across Gloucestershire, Stroud mainly, to run spaces providing digital support to people finding it difficult to be included in the world of digital and technology.
Creative Camping hold residential and online activities for disabled and non-disabled young people in Gloucestershire, supporting teenagers and young adults to spend time together in nature as well as online and encourages self-agency, positive risk taking, cooperation, friendship and inclusion.
Our shopfront at 10 John Street is a visible high street space providing a central space for our work and opens up for local groups to use as a place to meet. This space is the ideal location from which to operate our Library of Things.
Project Owner: Creative Sustainability The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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